In a surprising departure from his signature feel-good storytelling, director Sekhar Kammula steps into darker, politically charged territory with Kuberaa. Starring Dhanush, Nagarjuna, Rashmika Mandanna, Jim Sarbh, and others, the film attempts a gripping exploration of corruption, systemic decay, and class inequality.
Set against the backdrop of an India on the brink of economic transformation, Kuberaa introduces us to Neeraj Mitra (Jim Sarbh), a powerful and ruthless industrialist. When the government discovers vast natural resources in the Bay of Bengal, Neeraj seizes the opportunity to exploit it. By bribing ruling party leaders, he seeks to monopolise the wealth and reshape the economy for his own gain.
But laundering such a massive amount of money is no simple feat. To execute this task, Neeraj hires Deepak (Nagarjuna), a former upright CBI officer now languishing in prison due to political vendetta. Bitter and disillusioned with the system, Deepak eventually agrees to join the corrupt machinery. His transformation from a principled officer to a compromised man, however, is one of the film’s weaker narrative threads; his descent is told more than shown.
In the elaborate scheme of things, an innocent beggar Deva (Dhanush) gets entangled. Deva is the antithesis of all the other characters in the film. He is honest, loyal, and righteous. How can Deva survive in a world full of corrupt people? If he can, will he remain unblemished? This forms the rest of the story.
Kuberaa opens with an intriguing sequence and this tension lasts for the most part of the film. The film’s structure is engaging, and the characters are clearly defined. Yet, cracks in the storytelling begin to show, particularly in character arcs like Deepak’s, which feel rushed and underdeveloped.
The script leans on dialogue to convey internal conflict rather than allowing characters the space to evolve organically on screen. You can also notice the flaws in continuity. For instance, Dhanush is seen barefoot in one shot and with shoes in the next. But the flaws can be overlooked.
That said, Kuberaa has perfect casting. Dhanush delivers a standout performance, while Nagarjuna offers a restrained and convincing performance as a man facing a moral conflict. Jim Sarbh brings suave menace to Neeraj, and even in smaller roles, actors like Bhagyaraj and Sayaji Shinde leave an impact.
Rashmika’s performance was adequate. While her character is funny and offers a much needed respite in the intense film, her role feels underwritten and could have used more depth.
Devi Sri Prasad’s background score elevates the film considerably. Cinematographer Niketh Bomireddy captures both the grime and grandeur of the story with his wide frames.
However, Kuberaa falters most in its final act. After keeping the audience gripped for over two hours, the film’s climax disappoints. Kammula, who skilfully builds tension throughout, appears unsure of how to show a meaningful resolution. The ending lacks emotional payoff and fails to offer the philosophical or narrative closure the premise demands.
The director could have explored the idea of an unblemished character like Deva getting attracted towards greed and other human fallacies. But Kammula steers clear of it.
In Kuberaa, Kammula sets out to expose the extreme inequalities of power and wealth. While he succeeds largely in providing a gripping drama, the film fails at becoming as hard-hitting as it aspires to be.
Disclaimer: This review was not paid for or commissioned by anyone associated with the film. Neither TNM nor any of its reviewers have any sort of business relationship with the film’s producers or any other members of its cast and crew.
